Match Discussion: Finals Week 1 vs North Qld @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Finals Week 1
1st Elimination Final (5th v 8th)
North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba (TICKETS)

Saturday 14 September 2024
NRL kickoff 7:50pm.
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Tomas Chester

In: Jordan McLean (front row), Jaxon Purdue (reserve), Chad Townsend (reserve), Marly Bitungane (reserve), Tom Chester (reserve)
Changes: Sam McIntyre (front row to bench), Thomas Mikaele (bench to reserve)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Kai Pearce-Paul

In: Thomas Cant (reserve), Will Pryce (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Kyle McCarthy (reserve), Kai Pearce-Paul (reserve)

Referee: Todd Smith Sideline Officials: Jarrod Cole, Drew Oultram; Video Referee: Wyatt Raymond

HEAD TO HEAD - 1995 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NORTH QLD	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	45	23	22	0
QLD C. BANK	5	5	0	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2021	Round 11	NORTH QLD 36-20	QLD C. Bank	11208
2021	Round 16	NEWCASTLE 38-0	McD. Jones	7610
2022	Round 9	NORTH QLD 36-16	QLD C. Bank	14463
2023	Round 8	NORTH QLD 18-16	QLD C. Bank	17970
2024	Round 2	NORTH QLD 21-20	QLD C. Bank	18986

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2005	Round 4	NORTH QLD 52-18	Dairy Farmers	22347
2021	Round 16	NEWCASTLE 38-0	McD. Jones	7610

What happens next?​

WINNER: away Week 2 Semi Final v loser of Storm-Sharks QF
LOSER is ELIMINATED

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 25		Round 26		Round 27
NORTH QLD	(BYE)		MELBOURNE	W 38-30	CANTERBURY	W 44-6
NEWCASTLE	SOUTH SYDNEY	W 36-16	GOLD COAST	W 36-14	DOLPHINS	W 14-6

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NORTH QLD	5th	24	3	15-9-0	657	568
NEWCASTLE	8th	24	3	12-12-0	470	510

 

[Nuke]

This game is winnable. Especially as the Knights have found some kind of form in recent weeks.

 

[Zoidberg]

As has been the case all year, we need our attack to improve to have a chance in this.

 

[Woody90]

We’ll either win in a close one or get smashed. Hopefully we acclimatise to Townsville better than we usually do.

We have nothing to lose really, all the pressure on the Cows. Would be fantastic if we could get through another week though.

 

[Old dog]

The emphasis seams to be supporting in defence, time to share a bit of that support to attack.
We need to just give it all a good big effort, we are still in the game

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Calling it now, we win by 4.

 

[Yosh]

Pretty confident going into the game. Ponga go smash ya old team!!

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Cowboys have a soft underbelly. Haven't looked convincing in defence all year. They'll fold in a hard game like we played today. Just need to bring that same energy and we'll have a huge chance.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

They struggled to beat a reserve grade Storm side the other week.. They're very beatable

 

[Knight Tales]

History needs making up there but we are due. And the pressure is all on them. The switch to the night is massive for us: It was going to be 4pm Sunday. And that would be immensely draining win or lose for the following week. It will difficult enough as is. Hopefully it pisses rain.

 

[Alex28]

We lost in golden point up there earlier in the year right?

We are a massive chance. Hopefully people keep writing us off. Hopefully the Cowboys think they will coast though.

 

[Haffa]

Path to an inevitable GF win. Cowboys > Sharks > Panthers > Storm.

wulululu cowboys rise!!!

 

[Burwood]

This has a similar feeling to us playing Canberra in the finals last year. Except we’re Canberra this time.

 

[Yosh]

I think the Cowboys are there for the taking. I hate the Sharks so I hope we beat em. If we do that I'll be happy enough.

 

[Nuke]

Crazy that we're 2 wins ...two winnable wins... from a Preliminary Final.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Irony if Cogger takes us to the GF.

 

[Yosh]

Apparently the NRL has chartered a flight directly from Newy to Townsville for the team. How nice of them.

 

[Woody90]

Apparently the NRL has chartered a flight directly from Newy to Townsville for the team. How nice of them.

It was to make up for the fact that they told the club initially they’d be playing Sunday so we organised transport to NQ to Sunday but then they changed the game to Saturday last minute.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Flying first class just as we should be

 

[Rod]

It was to make up for the fact that they told the club initially they’d be playing Sunday so we organised transport to NQ to Sunday but then they changed the game to Saturday last minute.

A better result for us overall I think, as the Sunday game would have been in the afternoon. Saturday evening should be (somewhat) cooler.